Much of Court Square is listed in the National Register. The square and the one-way street that runs around the landmark get their names from the historic Abbeville Courthouse, which stands proudly beside the Abbeville Opera House. At one end of the square – which is actually more of a rectangle – you will find a replica of Big Ben’s iron bell. On the other end, you will find the Abbeville Fountain, which offers respite for dogs and horses.

The square is home to many festivals and events, such as “Flicks on the Bricks,” an outdoor movie series hosted by the City of Abbeville during the summer. Speaking of movies, one interesting thing to note is that Abbeville’s square was featured in Sleeping with the Enemy, starring Julia Roberts. You can see it when Robert’s character, Laura, is traveling on the bus.

Abbeville Historic District – National Register

Abbeville Court Square is part of the Abbeville Historic District. The National Register of Historic Places describes the district as follows:
The Abbeville Historic District is comprised of a large portion of the city of Abbeville, the county seat of Abbeville County, South Carolina. Of the 528 properties in the district, 319 contribute to its historical character. The focal point of the district is the Court Square, on which are located the County Courthouse, Municipal Building, and a well-preserved collection of late nineteenth century brick commercial buildings. The district also includes the older residential section sections of the city, several churches, two school buildings, and three buildings associated with the city’s railroad history.

The city of Abbeville was formed in the late eighteenth century; however, most of the properties included in the district reflect the city’s history throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As a result, the buildings display a wide variety of architectural styles including Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Beaux-Arts, Queen Anne and Bungalow. In addition, the district reflects the city’s role as a commercial center for the surrounding county. The city is also noted for its role in the political and governmental development of the area. Several residences are important for their association with persons or events of historical significance are located within the boundaries of the district.

SCIWAY thanks frequent contributor Mark Clark, an Abbeville native who currently resides in Winnsboro, for submitting the second photo on this page. Mark writes, “The first job I ever had was working for the Abbeville Drug Company, which used to be located in the building at the far end of this picture. I stocked the shelves and delivered prescriptions to customers in town. Although Abbeville is a very small town, I quickly found that I knew very little about where the streets were without the help of a city map. Of course, since everyone in Abbeville knows everyone else, I quickly got to know most of my customers and learned a little about myself as well.”

Contributor Andy Hunter shares his own Julia Roberts sighting along with his appreciation of Abbeville: “I was on my way to the upstate to attend a graduation and decided to take a break walking around the Abbeville town square. Here is a shot of the park area, which is where I saw Julia Roberts many, many years ago, during the filming of “Sleeping with the Enemy.” My family was visiting friends in Greenwood, and heard that they were filming downtown. Abbeville is a great place to take visit with lots of photo ops all over the place.”

Abbeville Court Square Info

Address: Court Square, Abbeville, SC 29260

Abbeville Court Square Map

Abbeville Court Square  Add Info and More Photos

The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State and create a permanent digital repository for our cultural landmarks and natural landscapes. We invite you to add additional pictures (paintings, photos, etc) of Abbeville Court Square, and we also invite you to add info, history, stories, and travel tips.
Together, we hope to build one of the best and most loved SC resources in the world!

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2 Comments about Abbeville Court Square

• Ralph Koerber says:
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:48 am

Missing my “hometown”. These pictures bring me back to simpler days (both as a kid growing up in Abbeville and later again as an adult raising my kids there). Here’s hoping I can again one day navigate my way back to the homestead.

• Melinda Kuykendall says:
May 23rd, 2012 at 3:40 pm

I would like to know the dates for Flicks on the Bricks

Copyright: All images in the SC Picture Project remain the property of the photographer or artist. You may not use them in any form without written consent. SCIWAY does not provide contact information for photographers.